Kanazawa: What’s the one thing you couldn’t live without?

Yasushi TakaEnglish teacher, 22 (Japanese)It has to be comedy. I watch comedy almost every day on TV or on YouTube. I especially like Japanese manzai, but that’s only one kind that I’m a fan of. I’m always exhausted when I go home, but comedy always makes me feel better. I think laughter is the most important thing in life.

Lou SchoutenArtist, 27 (New Zealander)I think music is incredibly powerful. Music can make people think about new ideas. It can connect people. Music can change the world, if we let it! For me, when I listen to good music or sing my favorite song, I feel happy. Music is joy — that’s why I couldn’t live without it.

Richard FarmerFreelance Zen scholar, 25 (British)I might die without wine in my life. A crisp white to accompany a boozy Sunday lunch with a friend, or a full-bodied red while sitting somewhere warm to escape Kanazawa’s winters. There are two types of day in my life: days when I have to drink wine, and days when I have to drink a little more.

Tomoko FujimotoDental assistant, 52 (Japanese)For me, the most important thing is reading books, especially for arranging trips. I always want to make plans to go on an exciting trip after reading a book about it. Traveling gives me energy; when I feel bad, reading about trips and traveling makes me feel better.

Michael MarkeyTranslator, 26 (American)I couldn’t live without coffee. The best moment of the day is waking up and drinking my first cup. The rest of the day is a downhill slide, until I drink my next cup and then I feel awake. That cycle repeats for the rest of the day until I go to sleep. Does this make me sound like an addict?

Mari KasadaBiology teacher, 28 (Japanese)I couldn’t live without nature, because that’s what I love being around. When I look at nature, it makes me realize how wonderful our world is. When I am surrounded by green trees, water, birds singing, I feel alive! I also think it’s just simply beautiful, especially in Australia.